HPD sergeant, ex-FBI agent on the trail of stolen Renoir

Former federal agent Bob Whitman said that whoever took this oil by Auguste Renoir probably can't find a buyer.

Former federal agent Bob Whitman said that whoever took this oil by Auguste Renoir probably can't find a buyer.

Photo: Robert Wittman Inc.

Photo: Robert Wittman Inc.

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Former federal agent Bob Whitman said that whoever took this oil by Auguste Renoir probably can't find a buyer.

Former federal agent Bob Whitman said that whoever took this oil by Auguste Renoir probably can't find a buyer.

Photo: Robert Wittman Inc.

HPD sergeant, ex-FBI agent on the trail of stolen Renoir

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John Bedingfield is a seasoned criminal investigator. The Houston Police Department robbery division sergeant spent nearly half his 20-year career undercover in the agency's vice division, immersed in the criminal underbelly of prostitution, gambling and money-laundering.

But when the case of a stolen painting by famed French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir landed on his desk last September, Bedingfield wasn't quite sure what direction to take.

The suspect's initial modus operandi seemed like a typical home invasion: Armed masked intruder makes demands for expensive items. But the only loot the bandit grabbed was the Renoir - something not likely to end up in a local pawn shop.

Enter Bob Wittman, a former federal agent who specializes in art crimes. During his FBI career, Wittman recovered the golden armor of an ancient Peruvian warrior king, captured crooks trying to sell a stolen painting by the Dutch master Rembrandt, and saved an original copy of the Bill of Rights believed lost for 100 years. Now running a firm in Philadelphia, Wittman was contracted by the company that insured the Renoir painting to aid in the investigation.

Using Bedingfield's knowledge of Houston's criminal landscape and Wittman's expertise in art theft, the two have worked tirelessly in hopes of catching the culprit and recovering the stolen painting, Madeleine Leaning On Her Elbow With Flowers In Her Hair.

Reward doubled

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$50,000 reward

Anyone with information about the stolen Renoir painting, Madeleine Leaning On Her Elbow With Flowers In Her Hair, is urged to contact the HPD robbery division at 713-308-0700 or Robert Wittman Inc. at 610-361-8929.

The pair have entered the painting into stolen and lost art databases. Bedingfield has chased down leads all over the city, even following through on a tip from someone who overheard a suspicious conversation at a car wash. He also has explored the possibility that the crime had some connection to a rash of burglaries in the same area during that time.

This week, the insurance company announced it's offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the piece - double the previous reward - in an effort to generate leads.

While the painting's value was not released, Wittman said it is estimated to be in the high six figures. Both men say whoever stole the painting probably had no idea what they were taking, and that it's probably hidden under a bed or tucked away in a closet somewhere.

The robbery occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Sept. 8 at a residence near Woodway and Chimney Rock, Bedingfield said. The victim, whose name was not released, told officers she saw a light flashing on the first floor of her home. When she came downstairs, she was confronted by a man wearing a ski mask and gloves, armed with what she believed was a gun.

She told officers the man began demanding money and diamonds. Fearing he would go upstairs, where her young son was asleep, she pointed out the Renoir by the stairs as the most valuable thing she owned, Bedingfield said.

After taking the painting and her cellphone, the robber left by a back door.

Police believe the man got onto the property through an unlocked gate and broke into the house through a door by the garage. The home­owner had no security system installed, Bedingfield said.

While the crime may have been one of opportunity, the robber ended up with the same problem faced by most art thieves, Wittman said.

"They are better thieves than they are businessmen," he said. "Generally speaking, in my career, they don't know what to do with it once they've got it."

No legitimate buyers

High-end pieces by artists such as Renoir are generally quite recognizable, making the work difficult to sell, a common problem with art theft. There's no market for pilfered art because those who can afford to buy pricey paintings do not want to buy stolen pieces. Wittman has never seen a stolen piece of art sold successfully.

"Over and over again in my career, it ends up that I'm the buyer because they can't find a legitimate person to buy it," he said.

It can take years to recover stolen art. Wittman said art thieves often wait until they believe the commotion surrounding the crime has died down before trying to sell.

Wittman's biggest fear is that the painting could be destroyed by a frustrated criminal, anxious to get the piece off his hands.